Gina Venier and Friends

In 2013, Gina Venier moved to Nashville where she began to focus entirely on compiling her original catalog. She played the Nashville scene as both an artist, and as a writer and drummer for other artists in town.

In 2014, while living in Nashville, Venier auditioned for Season 14 of Fox’s American Idol. With her soulful voice, and “one woman-band” set up of cajon, kick pedal, guitar, and “lucky egg,” Venier wow-ed producers and judges with her first audition of ZZ Ward’s “Put The Gun Down.” After all three judges gave her a “yes” she was through to Hollywood. Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez, and Harry Conick Jr. were continually surprised and impressed by the unique performances she brought to the show. Lopez called her a, “funky, funky girl” and Urban would frequently comment on Venier’s “true artistry.” Gina made it to the season’s overall Top 48 contestants, and was Top 24 for female contenders.

Post-American Idol buzz and success, Venier got back to spreading her ‘hybrid genre’ of blue-eyed soul pop as a singer/songwriter in and out of Chicago-land venues and throughout the Nashville music scene. Both Chicago and Nashville have been exploiting her distinctive vibe, whether through an intimate acoustic show, or fronting a band, each performance is guaranteed to be dynamic.

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